Residents still wait to return to Jersey Shore's Seaside Heights

The bridge to New Jersey's barrier islands where the devastated Seaside Heights sits is still closed according to Reuters. Authorities said it is too dangerous for homeowners to return because of the possibility of numerous gas leaks, impassable roads and a lack of electricity and water.

Residents may not be able to return until the weekend according to the Associated Press. 300 people were taken off the island since the storm passed Monday evening. About 70 remain and were ordered to leave.

"We have to get everyone off the island because there is total devastation," Seaside Heights Police Chief Thomas Boyd said Wednesday at a news conference.

The 16-block boardwalk is now buckled with planks ripped off and nails exposed up.
The Star Jet coaster remained intact although the pier below it was washed away according to The Star-Ledger. The owner of the FunTown Amusement Pier, Billy Major, had 40 rides damaged. A pile of debris is what remains of Bob Stewart's Carousel Arcade. He put his life into his business but reduced his insurance coverage last year, according to Reuters.

Governor Chris Christie told reporters, "We'll rebuild it, no question in my mind we'll rebuild it, but for those of us who are my age, it won't be the same."

This aerial photo shows the damage to an amusement park left in the wake of superstorm Sandy on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012, in Seaside Heights, N.J. New Jersey got the brunt of Sandy, which made landfall in the state and killed six people. More than 2 million customers were without power as of Wednesday afternoon, down from a peak of 2.7 million. Mike Groll / AP